Heavy duty electric trucks had the potential to slash transport pollution in Australia, an inquiry has heard, but regulatory roadblocks and high prices were delaying their roll-out.
Automakers and industry groups issued the warning at the Transition to Electric Vehicles inquiry in Brisbane on Thursday, calling for legal changes to support low-emission transport and financial support.
The inquiry, in its sixth public hearing, heard electric vehicles were expected to reach a price “tipping point” for consumers soon and future rebate schemes could target second-hand rather than new EV purchases.
The predictions came just days after the Queensland government ended its rebate on new electric car purchases – one of the few remaining subsidies in Australia – and after sales figures showed new electric car purchases had slowed during August.
Heavy Vehicle Industry Association chief advocacy officer Adele Lausberg told the parliamentary inquiry many of its members were eager to invest in large, battery-powered trucks, which could benefit businesses and the environment.
“If the goal is to reduce emissions, electric trucks certainly have a place and quite a large role to play,” she said.
“Some of the other elements of the industry are going to be much harder to make electric (but) we do know that electric trucks have a good case and they are part of the solution.”
But she said freight businesses still faced significant barriers to adopting the technology because electric trucks cost two to three times as much as their diesel equivalents and firms had to invest in charging equipment.
Association managing director Mark Gjerek said heavy duty electric trucks would ultimately be cheaper to maintain and run, but many businesses would adopt the technology sooner with financial assistance.
If they did, he said, the smoother, quieter and easier-to-drive trucks could help the industry recruit more workers.
“What we see is drivers prefer electric heavy vehicles,” Mr Gjerek said.
“Electric vehicles coming into the truck industry could attract drivers.”
Volvo Australia e-mobility solutions manager Timothy Camilleri said local and state governments could accelerate their adoption by creating a national set of rules around their use on public roads.
National and state-based legal changes and trials to allow the heavier trucks on public roads had been helpful, he said, but more roads needed to be opened to electric trucks and one set of rules established.
“We (want) national harmonisation across the different jurisdictions… not just between states and territories but into local councils as well,” he said.
“While we acknowledge the concerns about pavement and structure are warranted, we also stress the impact is not as great as some may say.”
The inquiry also heard from Queensland government representatives, including Energy and Climate Department deputy director-general David Shankey who predicted electric cars would soon reach their “tipping point” and command similar prices to petrol vehicles.
Transport policy planning and investment deputy director-general Andrew Mahon said falling prices had changed the electric car market markedly in two years.
While Queensland’s EV rebate finished on Monday, he said a future scheme could target a different part of the industry.
The parliamentary inquiry is due to hear from other industry stakeholders in Canberra and Adelaide during September and October.
AAP
Early data shows a major drop in EV sales in October, with the Model 3…
EVs account for 94 per cent of new car sales in Norway, with the list…
New study finds that using the batteries in electric vehicles (EVs) to store energy and…
EV charging station that is powered by renewables, provides a priority bay for people with…
Supermarket giant Coles and recycling firm CD Dodd are the latest companies to add electric…
LDV showcases upcoming electric ute with best-in-class towing and an aggressive look to compete with…
View Comments
Government needs to take the initiative for heavy transport starting on major freight routes.
Megacharge stations every 200km between capital cities, yes, even Perth. Megacharge stations will need transport parking, overnight accomodation parking spaces or motels, toilets and showers, good food, good mobile reception, alternating road sides, safe crossings, ability to exchange drivers due for rest breaks.
This approach means only the biggest transport companies and biggest factory/warehouse pickup or drop off will need Megacharge on site for top up whilst load transfer or maintenance is completed.
It would be interesting to see the costs that make heavy trucks and buses triple in price. Hopefully just initial costs, low volume sales, and regulations un settled.
They should bring in pollution levy on non EV trucks, discounts/exemptions on stamp duty or registration, some way to incentives EV trucks. A lot needs to be done with charging stations, not sure about all the amenities you mentioned. Definitely need charging stations with onsite battery storage under solar roof. Most trucks on the Mel - Syd route are overnight trips, dusk to dawn.
There is also the need for truck charging stations in metro areas and/or subsidies for warehouse/depot based charging given diesel pollution has a bigger impact in heavily populated areas.
I visited a few outback towns earlier this year, like Hay and Nerrandera and all i could smell is diesel fumes, all the time, nearly every vehicle on the streets was diesel and they weren't modern vehicles with high emissions standards.
Federal, state and local governments should all be pulling every lever possible to make the heavy transport transition to electric. Start with legislating heavy transport corridors through built up areas must be zero emission.
Excellent idea, The health benefits for roadside residents, with reduced asthma, and noise issues would be immediate and profound
Here's a new idea.
Upgrade existing railways and remove the need for road freight to the absolute minimum, 50 kms?
Long haul freight transport is a triumph of stupidity over intelligence.
What has happened to the battery swap truck modification form Janus?
MegaCharge standards will eventually take over I suspect. Swap over is not a standard and requires multiple spares in multiple locations which does work with short trip between limited number of locations by some form of agreement with owners. Otherwise ...?
Hi Miking, I suggest you check out the Janus Electric web site, or, better still, look for a Driven podcast with a title involving Elon Musk’s needing to catch up. It’s a great interview that Giles Parkinson did with one of the founders of Janus Electric. They have a whole ecosystem which involves converting trucks at the time of their periodic diesel engine rebuild, and putting the swappable battery packs where the fuel tanks used to be. The vehicle operators lease the charged battery packs, which are provided by Janus or by an operator licensed by Janus. It is a more sophisticated approach than your comment suggests - or am I reading too much into it?
I should also say that the Janus system applies to the largest prime movers used mostly for long distance or other heavy haulage applications.